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Nebraska state executive official elections, 2020

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2022
2018
Nebraska state executive official elections
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Election details
Filing deadline: March 2, 2020
Primary: May 12, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
How to vote
Poll times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central time zone); 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain time zone)
Voting in Nebraska
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2020
Impact of term limits in 2020
State government trifectas and triplexes
Other state executive elections

Seven state executive offices were up for election in Nebraska in 2020:

Public Service Commissioner
State board of regents (2 seats)
State Board of Education (4 seats)

Candidates and election results

Public Service Commissioner

General election

General election for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2

Incumbent Crystal Rhoades defeated Tim Davis in the general election for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Crystal Rhoades
Crystal Rhoades (D)
 
62.7
 
95,119
Tim Davis (R)
 
37.3
 
56,698

Total votes: 151,817
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2

Incumbent Crystal Rhoades advanced from the Democratic primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Crystal Rhoades
Crystal Rhoades
 
100.0
 
37,913

Total votes: 37,913
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2

Tim Davis defeated Krystal Gabel in the Republican primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Tim Davis
 
55.8
 
11,537
Image of Krystal Gabel
Krystal Gabel
 
44.2
 
9,131

Total votes: 20,668
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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State Board of Education

District 1

General election

General election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Patsy Koch Johns won election in the general election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patsy Koch Johns
Patsy Koch Johns (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
93,015

Total votes: 93,015
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Patsy Koch Johns advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 1 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patsy Koch Johns
Patsy Koch Johns (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
51,460

Total votes: 51,460
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 2

General election

General election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 2

Incumbent Lisa Fricke defeated Robert Anthony in the general election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lisa Fricke
Lisa Fricke (Nonpartisan)
 
64.6
 
71,932
Image of Robert Anthony
Robert Anthony (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
35.4
 
39,335

Total votes: 111,267
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 2

Incumbent Lisa Fricke and Robert Anthony advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lisa Fricke
Lisa Fricke (Nonpartisan)
 
70.4
 
39,330
Image of Robert Anthony
Robert Anthony (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
29.6
 
16,516

Total votes: 55,846
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 3

General election

General election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 3

Patti Gubbels defeated Mike Goos in the general election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 3 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patti Gubbels
Patti Gubbels (Nonpartisan)
 
66.1
 
54,199
Mike Goos (Nonpartisan)
 
33.9
 
27,796

Total votes: 81,995
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 3

Patti Gubbels and Mike Goos advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 3 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patti Gubbels
Patti Gubbels (Nonpartisan)
 
69.8
 
32,050
Mike Goos (Nonpartisan)
 
30.2
 
13,895

Total votes: 45,945
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 4

General election

General election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 4

Jacquelyn Morrison defeated Adrian Petrescu in the general election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 4 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jacquelyn Morrison
Jacquelyn Morrison (Nonpartisan)
 
74.1
 
53,839
Adrian Petrescu (Nonpartisan)
 
25.9
 
18,847

Total votes: 72,686
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 4

Jacquelyn Morrison and Adrian Petrescu advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 4 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jacquelyn Morrison
Jacquelyn Morrison (Nonpartisan)
 
74.7
 
26,484
Adrian Petrescu (Nonpartisan)
 
25.3
 
8,988

Total votes: 35,472
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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State Board of Regents

District 1

General election

General election for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 1

Incumbent Timothy Clare won election in the general election for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Timothy Clare (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
94,646

Total votes: 94,646
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 1

Incumbent Timothy Clare advanced from the primary for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 1 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Timothy Clare (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
52,973

Total votes: 52,973
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District 2

General election

General election for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2

Jack Stark won election in the general election for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jack Stark
Jack Stark (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
101,098

Total votes: 101,098
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2

Mike Kennedy and Jack Stark defeated Viv Ewing in the primary for University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike Kennedy
Mike Kennedy (Nonpartisan)
 
34.7
 
20,129
Image of Jack Stark
Jack Stark (Nonpartisan)
 
33.7
 
19,567
Viv Ewing (Nonpartisan)
 
31.5
 
18,285

Total votes: 57,981
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Context of the 2020 elections

Party control in Nebraska

Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2024
Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, a top-two primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races. All other primaries are semi-closed.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Nebraska, all polling locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Nebraska is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.[2]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Nebraska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Nebraska county in which they are registering, and at least 18 years old by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Citizens are eligible to register to vote on January 1 of the year they will turn 18 before the November general election. People convicted of a felony regain the right to vote upon completion on their sentence, including parole and probation. Individuals who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote.[3][4] A voter registration application can be completed in person at the county clerk or election commissioner's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or other state agencies. In-person registration must be completed by the third Friday preceding the election if completed at the DMV or other state agencies. In-person registration at county election offices must be completed by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election. Applications returned by mail must be postmarked by the third Friday before the election.[5] Online applications must be submitted by midnight on the third Friday before the election.[6]

Automatic registration

Nebraska does not practice automatic voter registration.[1]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Nebraska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. The Nebraska State Senate enacted legislation allowing online voter registration in 2014, and the system was implemented in 2015.[7]

Same-day registration

Nebraska does not allow same-day voter registration.[1]

Residency requirements

In Nebraska, citizens can register to vote the day they become residents of the state.[5]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Nebraska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any registrant who signs this application knowing that any of the information in the application is false shall be guilty of a Class IV felony under section 32-1502 of the statutes of Nebraska. The penalty for a Class IV felony is up to two years imprisonment and twelve months post-release supervision, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both."[8]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Voter View site, run by the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.


Voter ID requirements

Nebraska requires voters to present identification while voting.

Initiative 432, approved by Nebraska voters in November 2022, amended Article I of the state constitution to require voters to present valid photo identification in order to vote. Governor Jim Pillen (R) signed Legislative Bill 514 into law on June 1, 2023, in order to implement this policy change. Due to this legislation, Nebraska's voter ID requirement went into effect on April 1, 2024, in time for the state's 2024 primary.[10][11]

Early voting

Nebraska permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

The state of Nebraska refers to its no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting option as early voting. All voters are eligible to vote absentee/mail-in in Nebraska. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by-mail.[12]

The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is if the close of business on the second Friday preceding the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be received by election officials by 8 p.m. (CST) on Election Day.[12]

Past elections

2018

The following elections took place in 2018:

See also

Nebraska State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Nebraska State Executive Offices
Nebraska State Legislature
Nebraska Courts
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Nebraska elections: 2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed April 18, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Nebraska Statutes, "Section 32-908," accessed April 18, 2023
  3. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Nebraska Voter Registration Background,” accessed April 18, 2023
  4. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Felon Voting Rights FAQ,” accessed April 18, 2023
  5. 5.0 5.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  6. Nebraska Secretary of State, “Online Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
  7. Omaha World-Herald, “Online voter registration is coming to Nebraska,” September 5, 2015
  8. Nebraska Secretary of State’s Official Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
  9. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  10. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed June 8, 2023
  11. Nebraska Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQ," accessed June 8, 2023
  12. 12.0 12.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Early Voting,” accessed April 18, 2023